ANYONE CAN BE PHOTOGENIC! HOW TO POSE

Welcome to Time Out with Tanya, where I’ve put my fast paced graphic design career on hold in favor of adventures in motherhood. I’m capturing every moment on camera and you can come along, if you’d like. Sign up for my weekly email here so you’ll never miss a Time Out.

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An important part of my job as a portrait photographer is to make sure my client looks good by posing them in a flattering way. Posing is an art form that takes practice and was one of the first road blocks I encountered when I first started doing portraiture. Women, especially, would ask, “What do I do with my hands? Does my chin look fat? I never look good in pictures!” Sound familiar?

I recently came across on article titled 4 Big Reasons You Look Fat in Photographs, by Alea at The Haute Girl. She writes,

…a photo is merely a snapshot of a moving, breathing object. Angles that most people never see because we are constantly in motion and when you freeze frame that action in the wrong moment or bad angle, it’s not a reflection of what you may actually look like to anyone’s eyes. Angles are that important. Ultimately anyone can be photogenic.

I 100% agree with Alea on this one. Posing is something I’m still learning to master so I’ve been doing some digging and found several videos that might help you, too! Whether you’re a pro learning to pose your subjects, or just someone who wants to pose themselves in a flattering way for snapshots, here are 6 videos showing how to pose so you don’t look fat in photos…

#1: It’s All About the Stance

This short clip shows you how a simple adjustment to your pose can make a big difference in how wide or slim you’ll look in a photo. Check it out!

#2: Accentuate the Jaw!

World famous head shot photographer Peter Hurley (who was a model before he was a photog), says accentuating the jawline is key to creating a flattering head shot. He’s brilliant, so listen up…

#3: On Posing “real” Women

This video is long (an hour), but if you want to learn from the master of posing real women of all different body types, you’ll take the time to watch this tutorial by Sue Bryce. Everything I know about posing women I learned from Sue.

#4: When Posing Couples

The SLR Lounge Natural Light Couples Photography Workshop is chock full of posing tips for couples. In this clip, Pye shows us how to make sure the woman is posed in a flattering way during an engagement shoot.

#5: Posing High School Senior Girls

Lindsey Adler gives her top 5 tips for posing teen girls. I’m heading right into high school senior portrait season, so this is really timely.

#6:How to Pose EVERYONE

Wow, this is a little gem and it’s totally free to watch! A full 2-hour workshop by Jerry Ghionis on how to pose everyone. Women, men, couples, groups… He shares so many helpful tips for posing people in a flattering way without making them looked “posed”. Awesome!

Ok, now get to work in front of a mirror practicing your poses. I’m on a mission to rid the world of bad selfies, double chins and claw hands in portraits. Are you with me? Having some posing know-how in your arsenal of tricks will make you a more confident photographer (or model). Check out some other tips for building your confidence as a photographer in my interview with Amy Lockheart, FOLLOW YOUR HEART: BECOMING A CONFIDENT PHOTOGRAPHER

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Tutorial 003: Working With the Light

     Tutorial 003: Working With the Light

     The right light is crucial to an effective photograph, but "right" is often in the eye of the shooter.  Generally, the most desirable light conveys a three-dimensional effect and enhances the beauty of the photograph, but light can also convey more nuanced moods, emotions, or personal statements.  Light is not only the necessary condition for photography but also its primary tool.
     While every day presents, unique light conditions, there are some generalizations that can be made.

• MORNING LIGHT  In the early morning when the sun is still low in the sky, the light is clean and white.  This is a good time for landscape photography, because the extra length of the shadows adds a three-dimensional effect to your pictures.  This time is often called "The Magic Hour"

• MIDDAY LIGHT  At high noon, when the sun is directly overhead, the shadows are short and deep and the light can be very contrasty.  Portrait photography is especially difficult at this time because you must employ a fill flash or reflectors to soften the effect of the shadow.

• AFTERNOON LIGHT  Late afternoon brings a warm, diffused light with long, soft  shadows.  It is an ideal time of day for most kinds of photography.  This is also referred to as "The Magic Hour".

   Light is dynamic. If possible, plan your photography around the light. If you see a picture but the light is too harsh, wait an hour for conditions to improve.


     Good weather doesn't necessarily equate to good light. Overcast days soften light and reduce its contrast, while storms can create rare, surreal effects that if used well can transform an otherwise ordinary scene into an extraordinary photograph. A rocky coastline with crashing waves can be spectacular with menacing, cloudy, gray skies as a backdrop. A person looking through a rain-streaked window can communicate strong emotions.

TRY THIS: >>Place your subject by a window or an open door to create dramatic sidelighting.  The light coming through a window is often diffuse and not as harsh as broad daylight<<

      

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Tutorials, Tips & Tricks

Coming soon ill be posting different tips for photographers and models.  Everything from infront of the camera to behind and even ways to better business.

If there are any topics you'd like to see covered, feel free to message me or shoot me an email and ill do my best to get those topics addressed.

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